Wheel Assembly

[rakesb]

I'm concerned and confused by what I discovered yesterday during my preflight inspection of the landing gear wheel assembly on my 1966 M20C. I believe both main gear wheel assemblies are reversed, and the left main landing gear is missing one or more parts. The first photo is the right main, the second photo is the left main, and the third photo is the nose wheel. I also attached Figure 5-6 - Wheel Assembly Chart. Can anyone help me understand what these photos and this chart mean for my airplane, and what I should do to make it right? -- Bobby Rakes, (573) 337-3447, rakes_bobby@hotmail.com

[Guest]

I'm concerned and confused by what I discovered yesterday during my preflight inspection of the landing gear wheel assembly on my 1966 M20C. I believe both main gear wheel assemblies are reversed, and the left main landing gear is missing one or more parts. The first photo is the right main, the second photo is the left main, and the third photo is the nose wheel. I also attached Figure 5-6 - Wheel Assembly Chart. Can anyone help me understand what these photos and this chart mean for my airplane, and what I should do to make it right? -- Bobby Rakes, (573) 337-3447, rakes_bobby@hotmail.com

Bobby,

Your left main wheel is missing the dust cap which covers the bearing. Both would also have had a hub cap which was secured to the dust cap.

Normally there was nothing on the nose wheel, although someone did make a nice polished stainless steel hub cap set for the nose.

Clarence

[RangerJim]

Looks pretty gnarly Bobby.  Based solely on these photos, I would recommend that you have a competent and conscientious A&P/ IA with Mooney landing gear experience and proper tools, jack the aircraft ASAP and inspect and lubricate the entire landing gear system including all three wheels and brakes.  Be prepared to replace wheel bearings and races at the very least and participate in the process as much as you can to learn what to look for.  This is not an area to cut corners or cheap out.  The safety of you and your lovely lady is paramount.

 

Good luck.

[Delta]

Suggest downloading the Parker Hannifin - Cleveland Wheels & Brakes Product Catalog. Search their website (www.parker.com) or just search the web for AWBPC0001-15/usa. (It is Issue 15, dated 1Jul 2014) The catalog will show all the part numbers for each of their wheel assemblies.

[Hank]

For the reversed wheels, I can't tell but there is an STC to turn them around to get the brake assembly up inside the wheel well instead of hanging down creating drag. It's supposed to add a couple of knots.

[kerry]

According to the attached wheel assembly chart your right wheel needs parts 1-3 and the left needs parts 1-6.  From what I can see your wheel bearing looks dry.  Your wheel bearings might need to be packed with grease.

[rakesb]

Thank you so much for your replies and advice. A&P/IA pulled, cleaned, and repacked bearing and said that all looked just fine. (Photos attached.) Maybe I found the missing hub cap before contaminating the bearing. I was unable to find a new or used hub cap on line, but he located a used hub cap in short order. Still haven't been able to locate the dust covers for the mains with the single screw hole in the center that screws into the hub cap for 6.00-6 wheels. Aircraft Spruce has them in the 5.00-5 size, but not 6.00-6. Saw that LASAR makes a polished stainless steel 4-piece dust cover set -- 1-piece each for each main, and a 2-piece set for the nose wheel, one for each side of the wheel. However, those for the mains require three pre-drilled holes in the wheel and my main wheels don't have those holes, at least not on the inside of the wheels. So, I'm still looking for dust covers in the 6.00-6 size with a single screw hole through the center. Please have a great safe week.

[Guest]

Here is what I would do. Buy this tool and a small piece of aluminum sheet and make your own.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/search/search.php?s=CIRCLE+CUTTER&x=0&y=0

Clarence

[rakesb]

Thank you so much for your suggestion, Clarence. I like the way you think!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[DonMuncy]

My hangar elf told me if you have a router, you can make a plywood template and make your own out of aluminum sheet.

[jetdriven]

You can chuck a piece of .025 or .032 2024 aluminum in a mandrel and chuck that in a drill. Then run the piece against sandpaper or a file to get it perfectly round.

[rakesb]

Thank you so much, Byron. Wish I had some metal working skills. Please have a great, safe week.

[Andy95W]

I never really liked the hub cap/dust cover idea. Too hard to check or fill the tires.

My suggestion: paint and new hardware.

[DonMuncy]

It is not hard to check or fill if you have the right hub caps. See my gallery. (I don't seem to know how to attach pics here.)